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Every child has wished for a pony at some point in their youth . . . and most of us adults a have daydreamed about riding off into the sunset with that special someone. But the reality is horses are more than just props in our fantasies – they are living, breathing creatures. Unfornutantly, like so many other animals, they have been reduced to chattel and are bought and sold with no regard for their well-being. Much like cows, mares are forcibly impregnated, the foals are ripped away from their mothers, either to be sold into the racing industry or used as a riding prop. After these majestic creatures are deemed to have outlived their usefulness, they are put down. Around 80,000 abandoned or unwanted horses are sold into the slaughter pipeline every year. One of these unfortunates was Bubbles, an old, gray gelding who took his life into his own hooves and broke out of a slaughterhouse and into the hearts and arms of the rescuers at Becky’s Horse Hope Rescue Inc. Here is his story:

He was arthritic and frost-bitten and since nobody wanted to buy him, he was on his way to be slaughtered.

But Bubbles had other plans. He pushed through slaughterhouse employees and hopped onto the “freedom trailer” with the four mini-donkeys.

When a volunteer rescuer saw Bubbles he told Sue Chatman of the foundation, “Suuuuuue… I just can’t leave this guy.” They paid the slaughterhouse $450 and took Bubbles with them. This is where he lives now.

After they got bubbles back to the ranch. Sue posted this story on Facebook and it went viral. She says they have raised over $5,000 to care for Bubbles. The donations have poured in from all over the world.

Too few selected for public adoptingWild Horse Protection Act ignoringAuctioned prices climbing, ever risingThe “Killer Man” nods and ends the bidding. One final sorting changes the nature of their flight.

Steel trailers travel south to border crossingsSqueezed into plywood crates, foreboding Bewildered captives endure hours of flyingNo hay or water to ease their silent suffering. Japan’s slaughter houses, the destination of their flight.

Spinal cords severed by Ice-pick stabbingsStrong legs collapse to the sounds of groaningHind legs wrapped in chains are liftingThrough cut throats, life’s blood is draining Can glazed eyes see their souls take flight?

Wild burros, horses, mules trapped for Federal cullingRace horses, ponies, trotters too old for sports or breedingLoyalty, trust unnoticed in the equine steaks now steamingAs patrons of foreign dining enjoy their gourmet gorging. Ignorant of the bloody, heinous outcome of their flight.

Horses carried men in battle, no beribboned medal dying,Pulled prairie schooners across the plains unendingBuilt railroads, carried mail, plowed fields for plantingIn Arlington, proudly paraded veterans to their final resting. We must preserve, forever, the freedom of their flight.

From this poignant story, one can see how animals "sense" what is going on around them, and react accordingly. "Run for it", he sensed, and acted accordingly. How sweet to see even the "discards" that others deem worthless are once again given a precious chance at life, to see another day break, and to smell another flower, or to graze without fear. There are good people in this world!